Cosmetics: Synthetic Vs. Natural

America seemed to have voted in favor of natural cosmetics in the 2000s. It is best symbolized by the way Americans have catapulted Tata Harper’s company and especially brand to iconic status.

In today’s world, it is really difficult to draw the line between synthetic and natural cosmetics. In the absence of clear guidelines from the FDA, it is a murky situation. Even the popular natural brands are partially synthetic due to their manufacturing process. Also, even the ingredients used in cosmetics marketed as natural may be chemicals in their original state itself.

In fact, it would be wise to be flexible, and instead of a synthetic vs natural chemical divide, you would be better off pursuing a practical plan. You simply check the ingredients of the next cosmetic product which you are going to use. Separate them into two groups- 

Products with ingredients that you are going to avoid:  

Beware of cosmetics containing alcohol, parabens, and sulfates. These chemicals can damage your skin. Even if these damages are too minor to be visible now, they would definitely be harmful to you in the long term.

Products with ingredients that would provide both immediate and long term benefits: 

Look out for ingredients that will keep your skin moist, increase collagen, and reduce wrinkles and lines which appear with age.

Natural ingredients are the gift of nature, and you should use them to maintain your skin quality and delay the aging process. 

Your plan should be simple - Use cosmetics with natural ingredients that are a fit for your skin, perform yoga, and bank on Ayurveda to cure you. That should take care of you, your skin, youth, and your health.

Smart Textiles 101: Tech Woven Textiles

One can claim that the advent of human civilization initiated when our ancestors invented—stone tools, the crudest form of technology. In fact, history teaches us that any civilization that has gained a technological edge over its rivals has generally prevailed. Even in the 21st century, this holds true as most developed nations are miles ahead of their contemporaries, courtesy of their technological advances. Our modern lives are interwoven with technology. And, that is what the budding concept of smart textiles is all about. 

Passive Smart Textiles

The first of the smarts textiles were the original trendsetters. The first generation of smart textiles, their novel properties included being woke to the surrounding environment and stimuli. Mostly they consist of simple sensors. They record the effect of the environment on it. They can record changes in the form of color, shape, and both electrical and thermal resistivity. Plasma treated textiles, textiles with optical sensors, and UV protective textiles are some of the prime examples.

Active Smart Textiles

These textiles followed the passive smart textiles to be reckoned as the second generation of smart textiles. Apart from the sensors of their predecessors, these textiles are also armed with actuators. Hence, they can not only sense but also respond to external stimuli. They can absorb vapors, get heated automatically, and further store it, manifest the chameleon effect, memorize shapes, regulate temperature, and resist water.  

Ultra smart textiles

These textiles apart from being proficient sensors and actuators can adapt to benefit you optimally in accordance with the external stimuli or change in environment. These textiles come along with an in-built micro-computer which acts as a brain for the fabrics. Examples of these textiles would be space-suits, musical jackets, and wearable computers. The latest of these textiles are in the process of incorporating artificial intelligence and advanced computer interface.

Pros and Cons

Pundits deem technology as a double-edged sword. The benefits of smart textiles come along with some limitations too. We would, however, as eternal optimists count the blessings first. The first thing that strikes the mind would be enhanced communication. As these communication systems would be integrated into these fabrics. A simple application of these textiles would be to adjust their temperature in proportion to the environmental temperature so as to keep the wearer always comfortable. As monitoring gadgets, these textiles would have numerous applications in the form of biometrics among athletics, patients, and fitness enthusiasts. The military application would literally arm soldiers with uniforms that could camouflage in accordance with the background of surroundings plus let them coordinate with other team members and the command center automatically. For miners and engineers working in hazardous conditions, it can even save their lives in critical situations. For the youth, it would augment in their ‘cool’ factor, and they can flaunt their swag with color changing and even dynamic light-emitting clothes in parties and nightclubs. One of the most prominent uses would be for astronauts and scientists trying to explore uncharted waters in the depths of the ocean or safeguarding them in space, and even on other cosmic entities. For example- these suits would be able to automatically react and protect the astronauts in case they note a spike in the radiation. 

The limitations include the shorter operating duration for smart textiles as they depend on the ingrained battery life. Data security is a crucial factor to be concerned about. Most of these textiles have little or null bandwidth in terms of data protection. Businesses can use this personal data to bombard the wearers with their unwanted marketing and sales efforts. Governments can use this personal information to track or monitor consumers. Moreover, if cybercriminals gain access to these records, they can put consumers in a precarious situation.

How to Improve Your People Skills

Irrespective of the way you wish to flourish in life, whether you wish to excel in business or climb up the corporate ladder, people skills is a skill set that you cannot afford to ignore. Building and maintaining any team are nearly impossible without top-notch people skills. Indeed, it would be difficult to master them at one go; however, with a little patience and persistence, you would soon notice that you are cementing your connections. 

 

Tell the tale

People are generally self-centered, and they would not like to invest their time, resources, and company if you do not have anything to offer them that interests them. Hence, gauge your audience and communicate accordingly. 

 

Grace with gratitude

Nurture a habit of expressing gratitude to people when they aid or support you. Even a mere "thank you" would further your cause. Also, ensure that you behave gracefully showering your gratitude to people who are below you in the social hierarchy.

 

Commit to compliment

Try to seek the positives in people. Look out for a specific behavior, skill, or trait and compliment them accordingly. Your compliment would solidify your relationship with your peers.

 

Treat others right

Treat people with respect not only when you are with dealing them face to face but also behind their back. You would soon notice that your reputation precedes you, and people vouch for your integrity.

 

Cordial to core

Focus on your specific characteristic strengths and anecdotes. Weave it in your persona, relationships, and behavior with others. People would automatically associate these traits with you, and your charm factor would increase manifolds.

 

Confidence to connect

Be confident without being cocky. Get out of your shell and converse with strangers. Be the first one to greet others. Ignore the shades of ignorance and arrogance in people while being conscious of not being a pushover. By being assertive and proactive, you would build a powerful persona.

Why There Is Free Hosting But No Free Offshore Hosting

 

Image source: Picserver.Org

Currently, there are about 333.8 million domain name registrations, which is steadily increasing by 1% annually. Statistics also reveal that there are roughly 1.94 billion websites. As a result of the slow speed of websites, the conversion rate drops by around 7%. This drop rate results in losses of approximately half a billion dollars. To prevent the conversion losses due to the slow running of websites, you should only bank on top-notch hosting providers. 

Free Hosting

The saying goes- “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” The question naturally arises - why would some companies provide free hosting services?  What’s in it for them? A bit of research reveals that these companies would make money via advertisements they place on the free spaces on your website.

Offshore Hosting

Unlike its counterpart, offshore hosting is chargeable. The charges are fair as generally reputed and reliable service providers offer offshore hosting services. It tends to negate the issues you would face if you employ free hosting services.

Offshore hosting is expensive due to many reasons. The internet is connected using undersea cables. The offshore hosting centers need to ensure the availability of electricity around the clock. They have to invest in generators. Due to the difference in socio-economic conditions, manpower needed for installations and repairs in the data centers is relatively expensive. The space to host the servers is also expensive for an offshore hosting service provider.

So, which one is better for you? It mostly depends on the nature of your business. If you are just starting your business or a solopreneur and not in a position to invest in offshore hosting, you may opt for free hosting services. You, however, should always seek to upgrade to offshore hosting at every possible opportunity to avail professional and reliable services.

Ayurveda 101

 

Name 

The word Ayurveda is a compound word. Ayurveda comprises of two words Ayush and Veda. The word Ayush means life, whereas Veda means Knowledge.

Ayurveda is a part of Atharvaveda. Atharvaveda once again comprises of two words—atharvāṇas and Veda. Atharvanas means procedures for everyday life. Thus, Atharvaveda means the knowledge of procedures for everyday life. 

Myth

The mythical origins of Ayurveda reveal that originally Vedic knowledge was transferred from the Gods to the sages (they were also the early physicians). In fact, according to Sushruta (the original composer of Sushruta Samhita), Dhanvantari (the physician of the Gods) was born as an avatar in the form of the king of Varanasi. He originally taught medicine (Ayurveda) to Sushruta and his fellow physicians. 

Origin 

As we have mentioned earlier that Ayurveda is recognized as Upveda (regarded as supplementary to Vedas); thus, it originated in the Vedic era. A rough estimation of that period would be around 5000 years ago. Though it is widely accepted that Ayurveda is a part of Atharvaveda; however, even Rigveda (the earliest Veda) also mentions various diseases, symptoms, medicinal plants, and cures. We have to keep in mind that Veda's were created even prior to scriptures came into existence. In fact, most of it was passed from one generation to the next via oral traditions.

Apparently, Ayurveda or as a matter of fact, all Vedas appear to be a cross between practical know-how and religious literature. From our modern point of view, it might sound a bit strange, but we have to keep the perspective of the primitive people, from the earliest of human civilizations. Even in the modern era, we are concerned about our health and still fear death. So, these ancient people started recording available resources and solutions. People generally pray when they feel helpless; thus, the religious portions were added. Coincidentally, we still have some tribes who still follow the ways of their ancestors. It can be noted that people following these indigenous ways know a lot about medicinal plants that city dwellers like us are ignorant of. It can also be noted that they too mostly remember these life-saving properties of medicinal plants. This trait is even common among other mammals, such as elephants and monkeys, who also use some medicinal herbs, in their own ways. Guess, the instinct to survive is strong in all living beings.

Branches

There are mainly two branches of Ayurveda; they originate from Charaka Samhita (Charaka's Compendium) and Sushruta Samhita. According to the ancient literature, Charaka Samhita was propagated and popularized by Atreya (a descendant of Atri, a great Hindu sage), and Sushruta Samhita was propagated by Dhanvantari and his disciple Sushruta. The main distinction between the two schools of thought is that while Charaka Samhita focuses on medicines and immunity, Sushruta Samhita mainly consists of surgical procedures and techniques. Thus, both schools of thought actually complement each other.

Many of the earliest followers of these practices went on to create their own treaties. Bhela Samhita created by the disciple Bhela of Charaka Samhita is acknowledged as authentic. However, some other treatises, like Harita Samhita, are not beyond doubt.

Peak

Ayurveda flourished through the middle ages (between 1200-1500 AD). It reached its zenith during the Gupta empire in India; there were even hospitals with proper equipment for the Ayurvedic treatment of patients during this period. Ayurveda was translated into multiple languages like Chinese, Persian, and Arabic, between the 5th to 8th centuries. 

Decline 

The Brahmanical (priestly) tradition in the Indian subcontinent of transferring knowledge to a selected few based on caste and creed seriously hampered Ayurveda's chances to reach out to the masses. Foreign invasions in India was also one of the reasons that a lot of important Ayurvedic treaties were forever lost. Ayurveda further stagnated during the British rule in India. The British naturally preferred their version i.e. allopathy (the conventional medical practice) over Ayurveda; hence, it was mostly ignored by them. 

Modern Era

Over the years, Ayurveda has evolved. It is once again becoming popular in the Indian subcontinent. The Indian government is promoting it in India. Patanjali by Baba Ramdev also deserves credit to make Ayurveda and yoga relevant and popular among Indians. More than 75% of the population in Nepal is dependent on Ayurveda for their well-being. Since 1980, Ayurveda is undergoing a revival in Sri Lanka. Currently, there are about 20,000 registered Ayurvedic physicians in Sri Lanka. Nowadays, Ayurvedic physicians also use modern equipment, like the stethoscope, to check their patients.

Apart from the Indian subcontinent, Ayurveda has also gained popularity all over the world, courtesy of its association with yoga, which is the new craze among millennials and subsequent generations of women. 

In the evermore conscious generations, who are wary of side-effects of allopathy treatment, Ayurveda is bound to find its place, mostly as a complementary system to modern medical practices.

Dosha 101

According to Ayurveda, our body is made up of the same elements that constitute this planet i.e., Air, Fire, Space, and Water. Doshas are "health types" formed of two of the abovementioned constituents. Our bodies, health, and to an extent, even our behavior is governed by the balance among these doshas. Now, that we know a bit about their importance, let's familiarize ourselves a bit better with doshas. 

Vata Dosha

Comprising of air and space as elements, Vata dosha governs our movement and further regulates our mental balance and well-being. This dosha is associated with breathing, the functioning of the heart, and muscle contraction. Imbalance of this dosha would result in anxiety, digestive problems, and fear.

To sync this dosha, you can practice meditation and be more cognizant of your sleep and wake-up time.

Pitta Dosha

Comprising of fire and water as elements, Pitta dosha governs our endocrine, metabolic, and digestive systems. This dosha is associated with metabolic processes. Imbalance of this dosha would result in skin irritation and rashes, anger, burnout, and overexertion. 

To sync this dosha, you should refrain from junk and spicy foods; instead, make a conscious effort to opt for healthy and organic foods, like grains and coconut water.

 

Kapha Dosha

Comprising of earth and water as elements, Kapha dosha governs our immune system and shoulders our nourishment needs. Imbalance of this dosha would result in sluggishness, weight gain, and jealousness. 

To sync this dosha, avoid carbohydrate enriched and oily food items; instead, make a conscious effort to opt for fresh fruits and veggies (preferably with a bitter taste).

Kalyan – The City That Holds the Keys to Your Home and Happiness

If you are one of the aspiring home buyers, scared of the sky-high property prices in Mumbai, then read on as this article describes how Kalyan, a suburban city, is taking leaps and bounds to provide you with all the amenities of heartland Mumbai, at a fraction of the latter's prices.

 

Connectivity

Courtesy of Kalyan's strategic location, close to the business districts of Bhiwandi, Dombivli, Ghansoli, Mahape, and Ulhas Nagar in Thane, Maharashtra, it takes care of one of the most important pegs of life- livelihood. The fact that Kalyan is one of the major stations of the Suburban Railway Network of Mumbai also takes care of the transportation woes. Situated strategically, Kalyan is also well-connected with roadways via the Eastern Highway, NH3, and NH4, all lying in proximity. Even, the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is approximately only eight kilometers from Kalyan.

 

Infrastructure

In terms of infrastructure, required to sustain and further flourish a city, Kalyan bears banks, private and public hospitals, multiplexes, malls, and both budget and pricey private schools. No wonder, it serves as the residential destination for the populace belonging to the proletariat class.

  

Investment

With soaring costs and apt properties being troublesome to find in the Mumbai metropolitan, outskirt towns such as Kalyan have gotten mainstream, with their reasonable and well-planned homes. Even if you do have a place of yours in Mumbai, Kalyan is a great option as a city to have an investment property. With top players in the realty sector eyeing and engaging in endeavors here, Kalyan is a great prospect to reap profits from your investments. By all accounts, expanding interest for property in these regions would yield ongoing value accelerations, and in this way, your investments here are bound to harvest significant returns over the long haul.

Mantra of the Millennials - Sustainable Fashion

Sustainable Fashion

Sustainable fashion, also known as “eco-fashion” is a modern fashion revolution that is highly contested and covered by media and woke people alike. As the term hints, it is a process of fostering reform to fashion products and their corresponding ecosystem, aiming for a larger goal of ecological and social integrity. To explain the fashion eco-system, one has to figure out the relevant junctions and tracks covered by fashion that deals with social, cultural, financial, and even ecological systems. The thought process pertaining to sustainable fashion concerns the consumers, producers, and the current biosphere of the planet, but also cares for the upcoming generation of human beings and other species. One may define sustainable fashion as the obligation of both consumers and producers plus the administrators in the direction of achieving a utopian society and natural environment. It is a pattern of both thinking and living wherein style options that are harmful to the environment is gradually replaced by an increasing number of eco-friendly fashion options.

The Millennial Mantra 

A growing awareness can be noted especially among Millennials, who account for more than a quarter of the planet's population. It can be easily pointed out that, unlike the previous generations who are on average less cognizant and caring about the environment, the Millennials are miles ahead. Prior to every purchase, the woke Millennials tend to consider the products' ecological footprint and the entire lifecycle. From production to shipping, ideally, they seek information about every relevant detail. Instead of opting for fast fashion, they prefer fashion products that last. Thus, they end up using fewer products to protect the environment while flaunting their swag. Also, among all the age groups they have the deepest of pockets, and hence they hold the cards when it comes to purchasing power. As, the immediate seniors of Generation Z, they also influence them significantly, ensuring better and more responsible future generations. To cater to the demands of these two age groups primarily, an increasing number of brands are conforming to their ideals and modifying their business models to reduce their carbon footprints, and improve working conditions in their factories.

How Non-Profits Can Radically Adapt to the New World Through a Collaborative Approach

The world as we perceive would change drastically once it recovers after the unprecedented crisis caused by the coronavirus outbreak. Though it may not exactly be akin to the new world that was ameliorated after Noah’s ark saved a minute proportion of the living beings from the massive flood that destroyed the then-known civilization as described in the Bible, we can, however, be for sure of metamorphosis in human behavior. A significant transformation is bound to take place in our interactions with each other, animals, and the overall attitude towards the environment.

Vanguards

Non-profit organizations have been at the forefront of the battle with COVID-19. They have been instrumental in not only creating precautionary awareness among the masses but also providing rations to the needy and poor. Augmenting the medical care provided by government institutions with their reach and resources, plus aiding in blood and plasma donations. The responsibilities and roles of the non-profits are going to rise further when the world moves out of its quarantine status. In collaboration with other bodies, they can certainly execute their tasks and achieve their goals swiftly and comprehensively.

Collaborating With the Government

COVID-19 like other highly contagious diseases in the past would not eradicate easily, and once the world resumes its usual business, experts believe that there would be a sudden spike in its cases. In collaboration with the authorities, the non-profits can act as the bulwark to keep a check on its spread. For a start, they can make people aware of the continuing need to maintain social distancing to minimize the risks of getting infected. Furthermore, with their connections and reach, they can act as a bridge between the affluent strata and the programs induced by the government. They can thus not only help the existing philanthropic leaders to channel their efforts in a better way but also aid in cultivating a crop of wealthy donor followers whose contributions can help further streamline the challenges and be a significant factor in reviving the perilous economic condition. It can be noticed that during the trying times of the corona epidemic when private enterprises are compelled to let their employees go, the non-profits are gradually increasing their manpower, providing a ray of hope even in such a dim situation.

Combining Forces

The collaboration ideally should not limit between the authorities and non-profits. In fact, the non-profits with their web of interconnectivity can play a major part in ensuring normalization. For example, if an international organization like Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation works in conjunction with a local non-profit like Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action (SNEHA), then both can amplify each other’s effectiveness by manifolds. Complementing each other, with the former’s financial resources and the latter's local manpower, this association can act as the ideal team to support the recovery in one of Asia’s largest slums Dharavi.

The Multi-pronged Engagement

For the optimists, every crisis is an opportunity, and perhaps this is the trait that has kept the human race constantly on the path of evolution in spite of suffering many setbacks in the form of pandemics and wars. It would be a perfect time to bring on board all the resources and associations to shield the precarious civilization similar to a protective umbrella. The necessity of the hour is to sketch multistakeholder programs to aid mankind as it recovers gradually from the aftermath of the crisis unfolded courtesy of the coronavirus outbreak. All the important stakeholders including businesses, civil societies, governments, research institutions, and non-profits must join forces together in this common fight to smoothen the normalization process. Businesses irrespective of their sizes with the support of governments should create jobs to keep the population busy and productive. That would automatically contribute to a large extent in letting the engaged populace experience pre-corona life. Large businesses can also donate directly to governments and non-profits as a part of their corporate social responsibility. Plus, they can also provide aid in collaboration with the non-profits and authorities to improve the requisite infrastructure and amenities. Civil society in a joint effort with the government and non-profits can stem a social consciousness to maintain hygiene and social distancing. That would not only hinder the re-emergence of corona but also prevent the possible spate of similar contagious diseases. The onus is of course on the research institutions to come up with vaccines and unearth innovative ways to combat COVID-19 and other analogous diseases. They must be supported by all possible means by the authorities, businesses, non-profits, and civil societies to remain a step ahead to deny any probable invasion of such pathogens in the future. They should get all the necessary funds and data from businesses, authorities, and non-profits. It is also for civil societies to shoulder the responsibility along with the government and non-profits to implement the instructions passed by research institutions among the populace. For the resurgence of a new world, it is imperative that all the stakeholders mutually cooperate and act in sync as a part of the multi-sectoral engagement. It would facilitate the eradication of remnants of the corona, prevent possible future pandemics, and accelerate the process of normalization. 

COVID-19 is bound to leave its scars on the face of human civilization. Even so, it would also create the circumstances for the entire human race to come together and act as a unit to prevent possible pandemics in the future. With the partaking of multiple stakeholders and especially non-profits playing perfectly the role of both a bridge between the others and an agent on its own, the transition phase back to normalization can be both shortened and smoothened. On a positive note, the organizations and associations partaking in the war against COVID-19 would eventually come on top. They would be strengthened further and consequently so would humanity!

3D Printing Perfecting Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Manufacturing in India

 

Though the world is yet to witness the full potential of 3D printing perfecting rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing technology, it is already reckoned by industry pundits as a game‑changer, akin to the advent of steam engine and conveyor belt assembly line. Considering its paramount significance, let’s see how it dwells in the Indian industrial ecosystem.

Comparison

Although, 3D printing perfecting rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing technology dawned on the Globe in the year 1980, it sprouted in India as recently as in 2012. Still nascent in India, it has only 3.3% of the overall Asian market. In comparison to that, the Japanese and Chinese are way ahead with their stats around 30% and 35%, respectively. As the abovementioned facts point it out that India has been slow to adapt; however, one can only hope that akin to the fabled “tortoise and hare” story, India finishes strongly as well.

Upside

From the operation point of view, there are a couple of advantages. First, the basic versions of these machines are quite easy to operate. For the sake of an example, even school kids would be able to operate these printers. Second, the raw materials and the operating cost are not that expensive; they are well manageable within the budgets of most businesses opting for this manufacturing process.

Challenge

The main challenge that entrepreneurs and businesses narrate is the steep pricing factor of these machines. The other significant challenge associated with the implantation of 3D printing perfecting rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing technology in India is the dearth of a qualified pool of technicians. In tone with that, the lack of research and development and serious funding are also roadblocks for this technology to flourish in the Indian industrial arena.

Recourse

In the face of these overwhelming challenges, one can note how the Indian “jugaad” comes handy. For example—a few of these printer sellers are collaborating with entrepreneurs to lease it to the latter at a manageable rate. It is a win-win situation, as the entrepreneur doesn’t have to invest a substantial initial amount kickstarting the operation. The printer manufacturer also doesn’t lose anything. Now, that one of their product (machine) is engaged, its replacement could be produced. This aids in their business continuity; moreover, they also gain a source of recurring revenue per utilized machine. Additionally, this creates a motivation for the competitors of these early-bird entrepreneurs, who though initially watch it unfold from the sidelines, but sooner or later would follow suit in the spirit of competition or for the fear that they do not lose out on a lucrative business venture. 

The scope of 3D printing perfecting rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing technology in India is immense. There is a myriad of opportunities, especially in terms of small-scale production like children's toys, office utility items, and daily household gadgets. Most of these items are now imported mainly from China and other countries. By application of this technology, the dependence on imports could reduce significantly. Not only, it would let the consumers have cheaper and better‑quality products, but also save the nation of precious foreign reserves and improve the GDP simultaneously.